With the appearances of Pato and Castillejo, Villarreal's attacking capabilities finally saw a significant improvement.
As the first half was nearing its end, the situation on the field suddenly changed.
Trigueros, in midfield, made a fierce tackle, sending the ball to Bruno Soriano's feet, a precise pass that created an excellent opportunity for the subsequent attack.
Bruno Soriano unhesitatingly threaded a through ball to Castillejo, who was making a quick run down the wing.
Upon receiving the ball, Castillejo displayed his excellent skill, delivering a delightful outside-of-the-foot pass precisely to Pato, who was charging through the center.
Pato, upon receiving the ball, immediately showed his keen insight and excellent acceleration.
He cleverly evaded Ramos's defense, then sprinted forward, carrying the ball straight towards Real Madrid's penalty area.
When Pato dribbled to the edge of the box, facing Varane's pursuit, he realized that if he didn't shoot soon, the ball would likely be intercepted.
Therefore, he decisively chose to shoot from outside the penalty area.
Although the ball was ultimately saved by Casilla, this attack served as a wake-up call for the Real Madrid players.
They knew that if Villarreal could maintain such an attacking momentum, they could concede a goal at any moment.
Villarreal earned a valuable corner kick opportunity.
For weaker teams, against stronger opponents, set pieces often become the most efficient way to score.
Therefore, Villarreal's players all cherished this opportunity, gathering in front of the goal, ready to challenge for the header.
Numerous tall Villarreal players stood in front of the goal, preparing to challenge for the header.
Their eyes were fixed on the ball, awaiting the moment the corner kick would be delivered.
Lin Feng, as the team's defensive leader, was positioned in the backfield, vigilantly guarding against Real Madrid's counterattack.
Lin Feng clearly knew that at this moment, his responsibility was immense.
He not only had to focus on defending the goal but also had to be constantly wary of Real Madrid's counterattack.
Relying on his excellent defensive ability and keen observation, he stood in a crucial position in the backfield, always ready to respond to any potential crisis.
After the corner kick was taken, Pau Torres, with his excellent ability to challenge for the ball, successfully got to the first touch and attempted a flick header.
However, his shot was firmly caught by the goalkeeper Casilla.
Casilla displayed his excellent reaction speed and goalkeeping skills, giving Villarreal no chance.
He unhesitatingly chose to launch a counterattack with a throw, accurately passing the ball to Bale.
Upon receiving the ball, Bale immediately displayed his astonishing acceleration and dribbling ability, quickly shaking off the pursuing Villarreal players.
Facing Bale's rapid breakthrough, Lin Feng nervously adjusted the distance between himself and Bale.
He knew the criticality of this moment; if he lost his position and Bale got past him, Bale would be through on goal, posing a huge threat to the team's defense.
Therefore, Lin Feng focused intently on Bale's movements, always ready to defend.
Once up to speed, Bale was indeed like a lightning bolt in football, his speed breathtaking.
Facing such a fast opponent, Lin Feng did not rush forward but calmly analyzed the situation, choosing to block Bale's path for an inside cut.
This was a defensive technique he had learned from Nesta in a virtual training module a few days prior.
Lin Feng knew that if he blindly rushed forward to tackle, he could easily be bypassed by Bale, which would not only put him in an awkward situation but also create a huge gap in the team's defense.
Therefore, he chose a more conservative strategy, by blocking Bale's path for an inside cut, he tried to force Bale towards the wing.
Such a defensive strategy requires extremely high anticipation and accurate positioning.
Lin Feng, relying on his rich experience and excellent technique, successfully anticipated Bale's movement path and accurately positioned himself in the optimal spot.
He used his body to block Bale's path for an inside cut, forcing Bale to change direction and move towards the wing.
Although Bale tried to break through Lin Feng's defense with changes in direction, Lin Feng remained calm and focused, closely following Bale's movements, giving him no opportunity to break through.
Lin Feng was like a solid barrier, cleverly restricting Bale to the wing.
He flexibly adjusted his steps and angles, always maintaining an arm's length distance from Bale.
His gaze was fixed on Bale, like a leopard staring at its prey.
Lin Feng understood in his heart that he could not let Bale break through his defense, so he used all his strength to guide Bale towards the byline.
He continuously shouted for his teammates to fall back, his voice full of urgency and determination.
Under Lin Feng's guidance, Bale was like a trapped beast; although he still struggled fiercely, he could not break free from Lin Feng's defense.
His speed, though astonishing, became useless under Lin Feng's precise judgment and excellent defense.
On the pitch, Lin Feng's eyes were not just on Bale in front of him; his peripheral vision, like a leopard's, scanned the entire field.
When he confirmed that his teammates in yellow jerseys were ready and had returned to their respective defensive positions, the heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.
At this moment, Bale's eyes revealed helplessness and frustration.
Under Lin Feng's precise defense, he couldn't find an opportunity to break through and could only pass the ball back to Danilo behind him.
Captain Bruno Soriano, who had just sprinted back from Real Madrid's penalty area, still had a slight flush from his run on his face; he was breathing heavily, yet his eyes were full of admiration for Lin Feng.
He walked over to Lin Feng, patted him on the shoulder, expressing his satisfaction and approval of this defense.
"Well done, Lin Feng!" Bruno Soriano's voice was a bit hoarse, but full of sincerity and joy.
As the game progressed, Real Madrid's tempo gradually slowed, and the ball was passed more conservatively between their defensive line.
Escribá anxiously scanned the field; he felt the growing impatience of the fans and heard their shouts for attack.
Time was short, and he had to make a decision quickly.
Suddenly, he abruptly stood up, clenched his fists, and swung them in an arc in the air.
His eyes gleamed with determination, as if to convey this resolve to the players on the field.
"Push up!" he shouted loudly, his voice filled with passion and decisiveness.
On the pitch, Villarreal's Castillejo, like a flash of lightning, decisively charged towards Real Madrid's defensive line.
His gaze was fixed on Varane, like a leopard staring at its prey.
Seeing Castillejo's rapid sprint, Varane, however, remained unusually calm, unhurriedly passing the ball back to the goalkeeper Casilla.
However, Castillejo did not give up his pressing because of this.
He charged towards the ball and Casilla like a wild bull.
Facing the aggressive Castillejo, Casilla began to panic slightly; his heart raced, and his palms became slightly sweaty.
Under pressure, he cleared the ball with a big kick, attempting to escape Castillejo's press.
However, the ball was unexpectedly stopped firmly by Lin Feng on Villarreal's defensive line.
Lin Feng suddenly remembered the earnest instructions from Captain Bruno Soriano in midfield; he withstood the pressure and did not choose to clear the ball with a big kick.
Instead, he precisely passed the ball to Bruno Soriano.
Soriano's eyes lit up; seeing Pato making a quick run forward, he unhesitatingly threaded a through ball to Pato.
Upon receiving the ball, Pato was like an arrow released from a bow, darting straight into Real Madrid's penalty area.
Real Madrid's center-back Ramos, while chasing back, accidentally pulled down Pato, a scene that instantly ignited the entire stadium.
The referee decisively pointed to the penalty spot, and Villarreal earned a valuable penalty kick opportunity!
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